Every Little Thing (Bob Marley #2)

by Bob Marley (Author) Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
Series: Bob Marley

Bob Marley's songs are known the world over for their powerful message of love, peace, and harmony. Now a whole new generation can discover one of his most joyous songs in this reassuring picture book adaptation written by his daughter Cedella and exuberantly illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton.

This upbeat story reminds children that the sun will always come out after the rain and mistakes are easily forgiven with a hug. Every family will relate to this universal story of one boy who won't let anything get him down, as long as he has the help of three very special little birds. Including all the lyrics of the original song plus new verses, this cheerful book will bring a smile to faces of all ages--because every little thing's gonna be all right!

Select format:
Hardcover
$16.99

Find books about:

More books in the series - See All

Publishers Weekly

The follow-up to this team's adaptation of Marley's father's "One Love" takes another Bob Marley classic and adds two verses ("Run to the playground, / laugh with my friends and play./ Three little birds, / perch on the swing set") to the immediately recognizable lyrics. Brantley-Newton provides polished mixed-media portraits of a dreadlocked boy with a huge grin and young parents who clearly adore him. The three birds of the original song accompany the boy everywhere, hovering outside the window as he gets into trouble with a baking project in the kitchen, then singing to cheer him up, providing an appropriate setting for the reassuring refrain: "Don't worry/ about a thing, / 'cause every little thing/ is gonna be all right." Pictures of the boy playing soccer with his parents and friends, who come from an assortment of ethnic backgrounds, will be appreciated by families and teachers searching for representations of communities that look like theirs. As with the previous volume, Marley fans will have to drag out their old CDs or vinyl to teach children the melody, since none is supplied with the book. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--In this picture-book adaptation, Bob Marley's daughter adds three more verses to her father's song "Three Little Birds." Waking up to the sound of harmonizing birds, a boy in a Bob Marley T-shirt sets off in the rain with an umbrella, happily splashing in the puddles. Later, he meets friends at the playground and invites a lonely child to join them. Back at home, he makes an unintentional mess in the kitchen and is comforted by his understanding parents. The birds and his mother and father sing him to sleep in the evening. The final repetition of the refrain, "Don't worry about a thing 'cause every little thing is gonna be all right!" shows the family rejoicing among flowers. Brantley-Newton uses mixed-media and digital art to animate the lyrics. Bright colors and characters with joyful facial expressions capture the celebratory nature of the book. The verses are printed in large type and zigzag on pages containing lots of white space. Readers will enjoy the antics of the boy's cat as it competes with the birds. A feel-good book for larger collections.--Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"A sweet elaboration of the original's reassuring message that 'every little thing is gonna be all right.'" - Kirkus Reviews"—-
Bob Marley
Cedella Marley is the author of One Love and performs with the Melody Makers internationally. She lives in Miami, Florida, and has three children.

Bob Marley, a Jamaican singer-songwriter, remains the most widely known performer of reggae music. Time magazine chose Exodus, which included "Three Little Birds," as the greatest album of the 20th century.

Vanessa Brantley-Newton's books include One Love, Let Freedom Sing, and Don't Let Auntie Mable Bless the Table. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781452106977
Lexile Measure
510
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Publication date
August 29, 2012
Series
Bob Marley
BISAC categories
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
Library of Congress categories
Birds
Children's songs
Songs

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!